Heating Up Christchurch Rental Properties

​Do you own rental properties in Christchurch? Are you aware of changes to the Residential Tenancies Act? What are you doing to make your rental properties warmer and drier?

Insulating Christchurch Rentals

​In 2016, the government passed the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act which among other things, created minimum standard of insulations. Landlords and property managers around Christchurch and New Zealand had three years to assess their rentals and install underfloor, wall, and ceiling insulation where possible.

With just 6 months to go before the July 2019 deadline, the government estimated 200,000 homes around New Zealand still needed insulating to comply with the Residential Tenancies Act’s minimum standards. From July 2nd 2019, these landlords could be fined up to $4000 for each uninsulated property. 

On top of those changes, in February 2019, the government introduced new healthy homes standards for the rental market. On top of more insulation minimum standards for rental properties, the healthy homes standards will require all rentals by mid- 2021 to have a fixed heater that can heat the main living area to at least 18 degrees Celcius.

What Does This Mean For Landlords?

​In reality, what kind of heater can a tenant supply that will heat a living area to 18 degrees Celcius? Portable gas, oil fin or fan heaters can be useful for heating smaller rooms for short periods of time, they are not energy efficient solutions for larger living areas.

In Christchurch central it can be difficult finding an affordable, steady wood supply. The most cost-effective, energy efficient heating solution a landlord can install in a living area is a heat pump. So what difference can fixed heaters like heat pumps make to a rental property? We spoke to a former Christchurch tenant about his experience.

Christchurch Tenant's Heating Experience

​“My partner and I lived in a rental on Barbadoes Street for three years. When we moved in, the landlords didn’t supply any heating. When winter came we bought an oil fin heater, because that was all we could afford. It took the edge off the cold, but didn’t really warm up the lounge. Some nights we would put our jackets on to watch TV, or go to bed early because it was warmer under the blankets,” he says.

“When our landlords asked if we wanted to renew our lease, we asked if they could install a heat pump. They agreed, and fitted a heat pump over the summer. When winter came, the difference was amazing. Unlike the oil fin heater, the heat pump really warmed up the lounge and made it livable in the colder mornings and evenings.” 

“Because heat pumps are more energy efficient than oil fin heaters, we weren’t as afraid to turn it on. By using the timer to heat up the flat before we got up in the mornings and again before we got home, our flat was more comfortable to live in and much cheaper to keep warm. My partner and I also had fewer sick days that year compared to the year before. With a heat pump in the flat, we were happy to sign on for another year.”

Get Your Rental's Heating Sorted

​Why wait until 2021 to sort out the heating situation in your rental properties? We can help you invest in your portfolio by making your rentals more comfortable, and easier to heat. Happy tenants are more likely to re-sign tenancies. Get ahead of the curve and install a heat pump in your Christchurch rental property today.

If you’re a landlord, property manager, or looking after multiple properties, contact the team at Heat Pumps NOW on 03 377 7393 for a free, no obligations quote.

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